Riptide

Good morning everybody. It's been a whiplash week. I enjoyed a beautiful few days at the beach in Florida, then watched my part of the world literally drown in historic floods. Years ago, my daughter was at a camp in the Hill Country when a huge storm hit and the worry almost ate me alive. I can't fathom the hole that has been torn in so many parents' hearts.

Then this morning, Austin's local paper ran an interview with me about Sharp Skirts. (if you need to use a 12-foot ladder to read it, I won't tell anyone). The writing is messy but that's the editor in me talking. I'm thrilled for the exposure.

Here are some things to distract you this week.

🎥 M3GAN 2.0 (in theaters)
I didn't think I wanted to see this but I'm glad I did. It's good, campy fun and a complete distraction from the hellscape outside our collective window. It also, to me at least, had an interesting commentary on where our future is headed with AI and how we should be thinking about it. But mostly it's just fun. The humor seems influenced by Austin Powers movies.

📺 The Bear (Hulu)
The new season is out and it's definitely better than the last one. They seem to have a new cinematographer, because the style is different in a good way. And there are actual things happening that move the plot forward (a little). But in general I predict this may be on its last legs. I bet season 5 will be its last.

📖 Interior Chinatown and Foster
Two books for you this week because they're both short and excellent. Foster is actually more of a short story, but man does it grab your heart quickly. It's the story of an Irish girl who goes to live with her aunt and uncle for a brief period. Just a gorgeous piece of storytelling. Interior Chinatown is hilarious in an acidly bitter kind of way, examining Asian stereotypes while telling one family's story. If you're on vacation, you'll finish them both in one week.

Stay strong and serene, my friends.

xoxo,
Carla